Lead Opinion
Opinion
Defendant Marvin Pete Walker, Jr., was convicted of first degree murder and other crimes stemming from two separate incidents joined for purposes of trial. In the first incident, during commission of a liquor store robbery, three people were shot, including a 15-year-old boy, Joseph Vasquez, who died as a result. In connection therewith defendant was convicted of the first degree murder of Vasquez (Pen. Code, § 187);
In the second incident, also during the commission of a robbery, defendant sexually molested, beat and twice shot a young woman, Rose Olveda, in the head. She survived. In connection therewith defendant was convicted of assault with intent to commit murder (§217) and robbery (§211) with
The jury fixed the penalty at death; this appeal is automatic. (Cal. Const., art. VI, § 11; § 1239, subd. (b).) We filed an initial opinion in this case on December 31, 1985, affirming the judgment of guilt and reversing penalty. Thereafter, we granted a rehearing when it became clear that the People had not been afforded a full and fair opportunity to address, brief and argue the merits of one of the penalty phase errors upon which reversal was predicated. We subsequently authorized the California Appellate Project to file an amicus curiae brief on defendant’s behalf. We shall address the various claims of guilt and penalty phase error raised by defendant as well as amicus curiae. For the reasons set forth hereafter, we affirm the judgment in its entirety.
I. Guilt Phase
A. Facts
1. The Liquor Store Incident.
Near closing time on August 6, 1979, defendant, accompanied by a second man, entered Dan’s Bottle Shop in San Jose. Present were co-owner Jerry Romero and two young employees, Joe Vasquez and Andy Zamora, who was mentally retarded. Defendant drew a handgun from his waistband, announced that it was a holdup, warned Romero not to do anything or he would be shot, then marched the three into the back room. He ordered Romero to open the safe. Romero, fearing defendant would become enraged if he found the small amount of petty cash kept in the safe, replied that he did not have the combination. Defendant responded by grabbing a claw hammer and exclaiming, “If you don’t open the safe I’m going to hit you with the hammer.” The second robber told defendant to “wait a minute” and asked for Romero’s wallet. After unsuccessfully searching the wallet for the combination, he told defendant, “He doesn’t know it, just forget it.” Defendant’s companion returned the wallet to Romero.
At that moment the bell on the front door sounded, indicating that a customer had entered the store. Defendant ordered Vasquez to wait on the customer, warning that if he made any “funny moves” he would be shot. Defendant climbed on top of the storage shelves to watch Vasquez, who waited on the customer and returned to the back room.
Defendant and his companion next ordered the group to the front of the store. Defendant opened the cash register and removed approximately $150.
Defendant again marched Romero, Vasquez and Zamora into the back room at gunpoint. As they entered, Romero observed defendant hand the gun to his companion. Romero testified that throughout the ordeal the second robber, who “had a very boyish look to his face,” exhibited no violent behavior; “[h]e was very passive. Very calm. That’s one of the reasons I—I really thought that we weren’t going to be harmed the way we were.” At no time did Romero observe the second robber pointing or brandishing the weapon. Defendant then hit Romero across the forehead with a full wine bottle. As Romero fell to the floor, defendant struck him again over the head with a second full bottle of wine. Romero lay on the floor, holding his breath and pretending to be dead. Defendant took Romero’s wallet from his back pocket, then felt Romero’s back and said, “We don’t have to worry about this guy any more.”
Defendant walked toward Vasquez and Zamora and ordered them to “Get on your knees.” The two youths complied. Romero, still conscious, testified he heard the boys crying and pleading for their lives. Three shots were then fired in rapid succession. Neither Romero nor Zamora directly observed who fired the shots. Joe Vasquez died of a .32 caliber gunshot wound which entered his forehead and exited through the back of his head. Andy Zamora was also shot in the head but survived. Romero was shot in the abdomen; the bullet ricocheted off his hip and traveled through several major organs, lodging in his chest.
As defendant and his companion fled, Romero heard the customer bell go off and the sound of a bottle breaking in the front of the store.
Both Romero and Zamora positively identified defendant at trial; Romero had previously identified him at a physical lineup. Another witness, William Cisco, testified that at a party in late September 1979, he had heard defendant talking about his involvement in a robbery. Defendant said that
2. The Assault Upon Rose Olveda.
Late in the evening of September 5, 1979, defendant entered a medical building in San Jose and pointed a gun at 20-year-old Rose Olveda, who was working late. Although he was wearing a ski mask, Olveda positively identified defendant as her assailant at a physical lineup and at trial. Defendant ordered Olveda to open the safe. She replied that there was no safe. He then ordered her into the back room where he demanded her money and car keys. She handed him $11 and the keys. He told her to lie down so he could tie her up, but he could find nothing with which to tie her. He ordered her to stand up, ripped open her blouse, and touched her breasts. He then began pistol-whipping her about the head, striking her an estimated 12 times before she was able to momentarily break away and run for the door. Defendant pulled her back and continued beating her, injuring her back and fracturing her neck. Olveda finally fell to the floor, pretending to be unconscious. Defendant then shot her twice in the head—once through the left ear, the bullet traveling through her head and jaw and lodging in her neck; and once through the left eye, the bullet traveling downward and lodging in her throat. Although she miraculously survived, Olveda lost her left eye and the hearing in her ear as a result of the attack.
3. The Subsequent Investigation.
Within five hours after the assault upon Olveda, the police located her car parked in a carport less than a block from defendant’s sister’s residence where he sometimes stayed.
During 1979, Officer Evan (“Danny”) Maclvor was operating a “sting” operation in an undercover capacity in San Jose. Maclvor fronted as a businessman who purchased stolen property. On September 26, 1979, defendant contacted Maclvor and sold him a .32 caliber semiautomatic pistol, telling Maclvor that the gun belonged to him. After arranging to meet with defendant again on September 28, Maclvor turned the gun over to the police department crime lab. Joe Vasquez had died from a .32 caliber gunshot wound to the head. Through comparison with the spent .32 caliber bullet casings recovered at both the liquor store and the office in which Olveda was attacked, a criminalist was able to positively identify the gun as the weapon used in the murder of Vasquez and the shootings of Romero, Zamora and Olveda.
When the two next met on October 2, Maclvor secretly recorded their conversation. Defendant told Maclvor that the weapon had been used eight months previously in a murder in Salinas, and that the person responsible was currently serving time for it.
4. Defense.
The defense attempted to impeach the eyewitness identifications through cross-examination of the witnesses on the various details of their descriptions of defendant and his companion. Defendant testified on his own behalf, denying any complicity in the murder of Joe Vasquez or the assaults and attempted murders of Jerry Romero, Andy Zamora, and Rose Olveda. He admitted selling the murder weapon to Officer Maclvor, but claimed he had bought it from two men in a blue van. Each statement defendant made on the stand conflicted with his last. His previous statements to Maclvor and the police at later dates were used to impeach his testimony; these statements in turn conflicted not only with his trial testimony but with each other as well. The defense also sought to present an expert witness on the subject of eyewitness identification, but the court ruled the testimony inadmissible.
B. Guilt Phase Issues
1. Severance.
Defendant contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to sever the counts based on the liquor store incident from the counts stemming from the assault upon Olveda. We disagree.
Robbery, murder and assault with intent to commit murder are all offenses of the same class. “[Sjection 954 permits joinder of all assaultive crimes against the person, all of them being considered ‘of the same class.’ ” (Coleman v. Superior Court (1981)
“Since the statutory requirements for joinder were clearly met in this case, [defendant] can predicate error only on clear showing of prejudice.” (Williams v. Superior Court, supra, 36 Cal.3d at p.447; People v. Smallwood (1986)
We conclude that, had there been separate trials, evidence relating to the liquor store incident would have been admissible in the trial for the assault and robbery of Olveda, and vice versa. Other-crimes evidence is admissible to prove the defendant’s identity as the perpetrator of another alleged offense on the basis of similarity “when the marks common to the charged and uncharged offenses, considered singly or in combination, logically operate to set the charged and uncharged offenses apart from other crimes of the same general variety and, in so doing, tend to suggest that the perpetrator of the uncharged offenses was the perpetrator of the charged offenses.” (People v. Haston (1968)
Here, both incidents were committed in San Jose one month apart; both were armed robberies leading to unprovoked deadly assaults; and in both instances defendant entered business premises shortly after 10 p.m., demanded that a safe be opened, marched his victims to a back room, and began his attack with a vicious beating to the victim’s head. Then, using the same gun in each instance, he shot the victim in the head while he or she was lying on the floor. We are not persuaded by defendant’s argument that several dissimilarities—i.e., that the liquor store incident involved two unmasked robbers, while the assault and robbery of Rose Olveda was commit
In any event, even were we to conclude that evidence of each incident would not have been cross-admissible in the separate trial of charges stemming from the other, it would not follow that the trial court abused its discretion in denying severance. “ ‘[T]he judge’s discretion in refusing severance is broader than his discretion in admitting evidence of uncharged oifenses. . . .’ [A] ruling on a motion to sever is based on a weighing of the probative value as against the prejudicial effect, but in the weighing process the beneficial results from joinder are added to the probative-value side. This requires the defendant to make an even stronger showing of prejudicial effect than would be required in determining whether to admit other-crimes evidence in a severed trial.” (Coleman v. Superior Court, supra, 116 Cal.App.3d at pp. 138-139, quoting People v. Matson (1974)
Defendant’s showing of prejudice is insufficient to establish an abuse of discretion. Although this was a prQ-Williams trial, none of the remaining factors detailed in Williams, supra, 36 Cal.3d at pages 453-454, militated against joinder. This is not a case such as Coleman v. Superior Court, supra,
a. Sequestration.
Defendant contends that the voir dire of each prospective juror regarding “death qualification” should have been done individually and in sequestration. In Hovey v. Superior Court (1980)
b. Challenges for Cause.
Two prospective jurors were excused for cause under Witherspoon v. Illinois (1968)
The United States Supreme Court recently modified the Witherspoon standard in Wainwright v. Witt (1985)
c. Peremptory Challenges.
Defendant contends that the prosecutor’s exercise of peremptory challenges against death penalty skeptics—i.e., prospective jurors who, although not excusable for cause under Witherspoon v. Illinois, supra,
On rehearing, amicus curiae assigns as error the trial court’s denial of defendant’s motion for a mistrial pursuant to People v. Wheeler, supra,
Under Wheeler, a party who believes his opponent is improperly exercising peremptory challenges for a discriminatory purpose must raise a timely challenge and make a prima facie case of such discrimination. Once a prima facie case has been shown, the burden shifts to the other party to come forward with an explanation that demonstrates other, valid bases for the challenges—i.e., reasons relevant to the particular case on trial (People v. Wheeler, supra, 22 Cal.3d at pp. 280-282), or as the United States Supreme Court has put it, “a neutral explanation related to the particular case to be tried.” (Batson v. Kentucky, supra,
It then becomes the duty of the trial court to make “a sincere and reasoned attempt to evaluate the prosecution’s explanation in light of the circumstances of the case as then known, his knowledge of trial techniques, and his observations of the manner in which the prosecutor has examined members of the venire and has exercised challenges for cause or peremptorily. . . .” (People v. Hall (1983)
In the present case, the court concluded that defendant had presented a prima facie case. The prosecutor in turn gave a number of reasons for challenging each of the three Black prospective jurors. He recalled that prospective juror Michael George had come to court in metal-studded leather motorcycle garb, and had related that he had been repeatedly stopped and harassed by San Jose police officers while riding his motorcycle because he fit what he called the “average black man syndrome.” Once when George was stopped for speeding, the officer held a gun to his head; George felt this was an excessive display of force, filed a complaint with the San Jose police internal affairs division, and seemed unsatisfied with its
Prospective juror Dorothy King had expressed strong scruples against the death penalty. She also displayed a general antiprosecution bias. She related that the San Jose police had “harassed” her husband by stopping him without sufficient cause. She had served on a jury in a prior homicide case which resulted in the defendant’s acquittal. She related that she disliked sitting on a jury in a murder case.
As for the third prospective Black juror, Dorothy Brown, the prosecutor recalled that she was barely able to suppress her apparent amusement when asked about her views on the credibility of police officers. She had founded a group to “counterbalance the popular image of Black people in the media,” and showed incredulity and disdain when the prosecutor asked follow-up questions about the group’s functions. She believed the San Jose Police Department had followed her husband home every night for a protracted period of time. She stated she could not imagine herself siding with the prosecutor’s side of the case.
We are satisfied that the trial court fulfilled its obligation to critically evaluate the prosecutor’s explanations. The record supports the court’s conclusion that the prosecutor properly exercised his peremptory challenges on grounds of individual bias.
d. Misleading Voir Dire.
Several of the prosecutor’s questions during voir dire properly implied that the jurors should not let their judgment at the guilt phase be swayed by undue pity or sympathy for the youthful defendant or his family members who might be present in the courtroom. Some of the questions, however, may have implied that these considerations would also be improper at the penalty phase. Defendant argues the questions were reversible misconduct, but the lack of an objection waived any such claim on appeal. (People v. Green (1980)
Defendant also assigns as misconduct the prosecutor’s questions put to several prospective jurors about whether they knew what life imprisonment without the possibility of parole “really meant.” We reject defendant’s claim that the questions constituted reversible Ramos error (People v. Ramos (1984)
3. Exclusion of Expert Witness Testimony.
Defense counsel called a professor of psychology, Dr. Craig Haney, as an expert witness to give testimony on the factors that may affect the reliability of eyewitness identification. Dr. Haney planned to identify numerous factors in this case which, in his expert opinion, increased the likelihood of the misidentification of the defendant. He had hoped to expound on various experimental studies which have concluded that persons under stress do not perceive details well, that mistaken identifications may result from suggestion or unconscious influences, that victims of a crime in which a gun is used tend to focus on the gun rather than on the perpetrator, and that many people find it difficult to identify persons of another race. The prosecution objected to the introduction of this testimony, and after an in camera hearing the court ruled that it would be excluded. Although the court agreed that the listed factors may have played some part in the eyewitness identification in this case, it nevertheless concluded that the subject matter of the proposed testimony was common knowledge and would tend to usurp the basic function of the jury. Defendant now contends the court abused its discretion in excluding the expert testimony.
The trial court relied on two Court of Appeal decisions which held that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in excluding expert testimony on eyewitness identification. (People v. Guzman (1975)
In McDonald we held that “in the usual case the appellate court will continue to defer to the trial court’s discretion in this matter.” (Id., at p. 377.) We also characterized the unusual case in which the exclusion of such evidence may be an abuse of discretion: it is one in which “an eyewitness identification of the defendant is a key element of the prosecution’s case but is not substantially corroborated by evidence giving it independent reliability, and the defendant offers qualified expert testimony on specific psychological factors shown by the record that could have affected the accuracy of the identification but are not likely to be fully known to or understood by the jury.” (Ibid.)
The present case is one in which the trial court had discretion to admit or exclude the expert testimony. Although Dr. Haney offered to identify factors that might suggest the witnesses misidentified the defendant, ample circumstantial evidence linked defendant to the crimes and gave the identifications an independent source of reliability. As we noted earlier, defendant admitted possession of the gun that was used in both incidents; his car was identified as the possible getaway vehicle from the liquor store; Olveda’s stolen vehicle was found parked less than a block from where defendant’s sister lived; and defendant made numerous incriminating statements both to friends and police. Although the trial court, under these circumstances, had discretion to admit Dr. Haney’s testimony, we find no abuse of discretion, and clearly no prejudicial error, in its decision to exclude that evidence.
4. Statements to Undercover Officer Maclvor.
Defendant contends that his statements made to Officer Maclvor were erroneously admitted at trial because he was unlawfully “entrapped” into making them. He also claims that his Fifth Amendment rights were violated by Officer Maclvor’s “interrogation.”
As previously noted, during 1979 Officer Maclvor was operating a “sting” operation in an undercover capacity in San Jose in which he posed as a businessman who purchased stolen property. Three weeks after the Olveda assault and robbery, defendant sold Maclvor the handgun which was subsequently determined to be the weapon used in the murder of Vasquez and the shootings of Romero, Zamora and Olveda. Shortly thereafter Maclvor again twice met with defendant; on the second occasion the undercover officer wore a concealed wire and their conversation was tape-recorded. During these meetings defendant made various inculpatory state
Defendant’s “entrapment” claim is plainly without merit. Entrapment is a defense to a charged crime. (People v. Barraza (1979)
Defendant’s reliance on Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
5. Physical Restraints.
On rehearing, defendant for the first time contends it was error to allow the jury to see him restrained in handcuffs and a leg brace. The record, however, is unclear as to what types of restraints were used, when they were used, or whether they were apparent to the jury, since defendant never objected below. For this reason, the claim has been waived on appeal. (People v. Taylor (1982)
6. Prosecutorial Misconduct.
Defendant contends that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct requiring reversal of the judgment of guilt. In particular, defendant claims the record reflects the prosecutor made some facial expressions of disbelief when the trial court dismissed a prospective juror for cause, and made an
Defense counsel moved for a mistrial on grounds of misconduct when the prosecutor showed the witness who discovered the victims in the liquor store incident a high school yearbook photograph of murder victim Joe Vasquez. The witness reacted briefly with some emotion upon viewing the photograph, and counsel charged that its use was calculated to arouse the jury’s sympathy. The record, however, supports the trial court’s findings and conclusion that use of the photograph for identification purposes was not misconduct. The prosecutor explained that the photograph, which simply depicted Vasquez in a baseball uniform, was the only one available to him; that its identification by the witness was crucial to demonstrate that the witness could distinguish Vasquez from assault victim Enrique Guerrero (defendant was ultimately acquitted of assault with intent to murder Guerrero); and that he (the prosecutor) had no knowledge or reason to suspect that the witness personally knew Vasquez or would react emotionally upon seeing the photograph. The trial court had discretion to admit the evidence (People v. Thompson (1988)
7. Validity of Felony-murder Rule.
Defendant urges that California should abandon the felony-murder rule. We have repeatedly rejected the argument and upheld the continuing viability of the rule, and do so again. (People v. Dillon (1983)
8. Instructions on Assault With Intent to Commit Murder.
Defendant claims that the jury was erroneously instructed on assault with intent to commit murder because the instructions as a whole may have led the jury to believe it could determine guilt without finding express malice. (See People v. Murtishaw (1981)
The contention is meritless. Following instructions on first and second degree murder and on express and implied malice, the jury was instructed that “[t]he defendant is also charged . . . with . . . assault with intent to commit murder, a violation of 217 of the Penal Code. That section provides
Defendant argues that the jurors may have inferred from the reference to second degree murder that a finding of either express or implied malice would support a conviction of assault with intent to commit murder. We disagree. The jury should have been able to clearly understand that express malice, as directed in the instruction, must be found in order for defendant’s conduct to constitute assault with intent to commit murder, and that the reference to second degree murder pertained only to a determination of the fixing of the degree of the murder—i.e., that the jury need not determine whether the intended murder, with express malice, would have been fixed at first degree (being premeditated or during the commission of a robbery) or second degree.
9. Instructions on Accomplice Liability.
On rehearing, defendant and amicus curiae argue that the trial court’s failure to instruct on intent with regard to accomplice liability for the liquor store assaults requires reversal of those convictions.
The standard CALJIC aiding and abetting instructions found deficient in People v. Beeman (1984)
It is undisputed that defendant was armed with the handgun upon initiating the robbery of the liquor store. After defendant personally removed the money from the cash register his accomplice stated, “Come on. We got the money. Let’s get out.” Defendant replied, “No. We’re not going to leave any witnesses.” (Italics added.) Defendant marched the victims back into the rear of the store at gunpoint. He handed the gun to his partner, then twice struck Romero across the head with two full bottles of wine. When Romero pretended to be dead, defendant removed Romero’s wallet from his back pocket, felt his back and said, “We don’t have to worry about this guy any more.” (Italics added.)
Neither of the surviving victims directly observed defendant regain possession of the gun or fire the enusing volley of shots. However, Romero testified that defendant’s companion, who “had a very boyish look to his face,” remained passive throughout the incident and at no time exhibited any threatening or violent behavior. Romero observed defendant walk over to Zamora and Vasquez and order the boys to their knees. As the victims pleaded for their lives three shots were fired off in rapid succession; Vasquez and Zamora were each shot through the front of the head. The execution-style shooting clearly evinces an intent to kill. The nature and location of the wounds, together with Romero’s testimony, strongly supports an inference that defendant momentarily handed the gun to his companion so he could hit Romero over the head with the wine bottles, then took his gun back, stood in front of his victims and fired the shots.
Defendant used the same handgun several weeks later to rob and twice shoot victim Rose Olveda in the head; the jury concluded from such evidence that he had assaulted her with intent to commit murder. Subsequent to the commission of these offenses defendant remained in possession of the handgun, admitted ownership of it when he sold it to undercover Officer Maclvor, and told the officer it “had done a murder.” The jury found that defendant had personally used the gun in connection with the murder of Vasquez, the robbery of Olveda, and the assaults with intent to commit murder upon Romero, Zamora and Olveda.
In short, the undisputed evidence overwhelmingly establishes that defendant personally shot all of his victims and intended to murder each of
10. Felony-murder Robbery Special Circumstance.
Defendant contends that the felony-murder robbery special circumstance must be set aside because the court failed to instruct on intent to kill. In Carlos v. Superior Court (1983)
We have since overruled Carlos in People v. Anderson (1987)
Defendant correctly argues that the court erred in failing to instruct that a finding of intent to kill is required for a felony-murder special circumstance as to an accomplice who is not the actual killer. Defendant handed the gun to his accomplice before hitting Romero over the head with the bottles of wine; thereafter neither Romero nor Zamora directly observed defendant shoot Vasquez. Notwithstanding the overwhelming evidence that defendant was the gunman, because accomplice liability instructions were given here, defendant was entitled to an instruction that, under such theory of liability, the felony-murder special circumstance would require proof of his intent to kill.
The error, however, was harmless for all the same reasons which required our rejection of defendant’s claim of prejudicial Beeman error. (Ante, at pp. 631-632.) Absolutely no evidence was presented suggesting defendant did not share the triggerman’s purpose to kill all the witnesses to the robbery.
Moreover, the guilty verdicts necessarily reflect that the jury found defendant’s intent to kill Vasquez. Three persons were shot—Vasquez, Romero and Zamora. Only Vasquez died. Defendant was charged with two counts of assault with intent to commit murder for the shootings of Romero and Zamora. The jury was instructed that this crime requires express malice. (Ante, at p. 631.) Express malice, in this context, necessarily includes an intent to kill. (See People v. Murtishaw, supra,
It is virtually impossible to conclude on this record that anyone other than defendant was the actual killer. In any event, the record establishes beyond doubt that defendant acted with intent to kill in this case. Hence, the finding required by Enmund v. Florida (1982)
11. Juror Questions and Instructions on the Firearm-use Enhancement.
Defendant contends that the court inadequately responded to juror questions concerning the allegations of personal firearm use in connection with the liquor store shootings. During deliberations, the jury through its foreman asked whether, in order to find the personal firearm-use enhancement true, it had to be established that defendant personally pulled the trigger, or whether his presence at the crime scene would suffice. The court responded by rereading the applicable paragraphs of CALJIC No. 17.19 (1980 rev.), defining the relevant concepts underlying a section 12022.5 gun-use enhancement. Amicus curiae concedes that the enhancement was correctly defined thusly: “to display a firearm in a menacing manner, intentionally to fire it, or intentionally to strike or hit a human being with it.” It is argued, however, that one or more jurors may have remained confused about when the enhancements could be deemed completed under these facts, since defendant displayed the gun when he initially confronted and robbed the victims—and at some later point the weapon was fired at all three victims. The court responded to a second inquiry
Defendant and amicus curiae contend the court should have instructed the jury that the gun-use allegation under the murder count could only be found true if defendant used the gun to commit the murder, and that his
In any event, we need not determine whether further clarifying instructions were in order, for on these facts there could be no prejudice. Defendant expressed a clear desire to leave no witnesses, used the gun to herd his victims into the back room, assaulted Romero in an attempt to kill him, and ordered Vasquez and Zamora to their knees. Even assuming for sake of argument that defendant’s companion fired the shots, we do not find defendant’s own gun use so separate from the actual shootings that prejudice could be inferred from the court’s failure to more fully instruct.
II. Penalty Phase
A. Facts
The prosecution and defense stipulated that the evidence from the guilt phase could be considered by the jury in the penalty phase. Only a few additional witnesses testified.
Officer Nichols testified for the prosecution about a conversation he heard through electronic monitoring between defendant and his cousin Lawrence Martin at the police station on September 26, 1979. During the conversation, defendant told Martin that he would have to get the gun from “Danny” (Officer Maclvor), and that “Danny” would have to be “offed.”
Officer Maclvor testified that at the conclusion of a preliminary hearing on October 30, 1979, defendant walked by him and the deputy district attorney conducting the hearing, turned toward the prosecutor and stated,
The defense presented several family members and friends as witnesses. Defendant’s mother testified that defendant, now 21 years old, had grown up in a poor family with 7 brothers and sisters. Defendant worked and helped support the family. Defendant’s sisters testified that defendant had helped them financially and emotionally on past occasions. Each wished him to live. A church secretary testified that defendant had done some yard work for her in the past. A friend of the defendant testified that he sometimes drove her to work. Defendant’s girlfriend testified that he had helped her emotionally, that she thought he was innocent, and that she loved him and did not want him to die. Defendant testified and denied making the threats to the officer and the district attorney. He claimed he was innocent of the crimes and wished to live.
B. Penalty Phase Issues
1. Constitutionality of the 1978 Death Penalty Law.
Defendant and amicus curiae contend that the 1978 death penalty law violates the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the federal Constitution because it fails to provide adequate guidance for the jury’s exercise of its sentencing discretion, or to require the jury to state in writing its reasons for choosing death. He further argues that the law violates the due process clause by failing to require the jury to find death the appropriate penalty beyond a reasonable doubt. We have repeatedly rejected identical constitutional attacks on each of these asserted grounds. (See People v. Allen (1986)
2. Evidence of Death Threats.
Defendant contends that evidence of the “D.A.” and “Danny” death threats was inadmissible on three grounds: (1) the prosecution failed to give adequate notice of its intent to introduce such evidence in aggravation; (2) the police had a duty to preserve a tape recording of the monitored conversation in which defendant made the “Danny” threat; and (3) neither threat constituted a violation of a penal statute—a
a. Notice.
Defendant contends that the prosecutor failed to give him proper notice of his intent to offer evidence of the death threats in aggravation at the penalty phase.
Section 190.3 provides in relevant part: “Except for evidence in proof of the offense or special circumstances which subject a defendant to the death penalty, no evidence may be presented by the prosecution in aggravation unless notice of the evidence to be introduced has been given to the defendant within a reasonable period of time as determined by the court, prior to trial.” The purpose of the statutory notice is to advise the accused of the evidence against him so that he may have a reasonable opportunity to prepare a defense for the penalty phase of trial. (See People v. Miranda (1987)
We are satisfied that there was substantial compliance with section 190.3. The record discloses that the prosecutor told defense counsel even before the case arrived in superior court that defendant had threatened a deputy district attorney and a police officer. In addition, a written notice of the intention to introduce such evidence in aggravation was filed a full week before commencement of the penalty phase. The trial judge conducted a hearing in chambers on the evidence to be admitted at the penalty phase. He personally recalled that from the time he was assigned the case the matter of the prior threats had been discussed in connection with courtroom security concerns. Moreover, defendant cannot be heard to complain that the notice of the October 30, 1979, courtroom threat against the deputy district attorney was lacking in specificity; the record reflects defense counsel was representing defendant at the preliminary hearing and was himself present in the courtroom when defendant uttered the threat. Finally, the record reveals counsel was fully aware of his right to seek a continuance to investigate and respond to any evidence of which he had not been afforded adequate notice. (See People v. Howard (1988)
The trial court was satisfied that defense counsel had been afforded adequate notice of the prosecutor’s intent to introduce evidence of the threats. We see no reason to reach a contrary conclusion.
Shortly after selling the gun to undercover Officer Maclvor (“Danny”), defendant and his cousin were detained at the police station on suspicion of burglary. Officer Nichols testified the two were placed in a room and their conversation secretly monitored. Defendant was overheard to tell his cousin he would have to get the gun back from Danny, and that Danny should be “offed.” Nichols testified “off” was a street term for “kill.”
At the start of the penalty phase, the district attorney for the first time learned that the conversation at the police station had been tape-recorded as well as monitored. Officer Nichols testified that the threats were audible on the tape, but its quality was very poor because defendant and his cousin had been whispering. A copy of the tape was forwarded to homicide detectives whose attempts to enhance it electronically proved unsuccessful. The homicide detectives thereafter informed Officer Nichols that the tape “was of no value to them.” He kept the original for five or six months and ultimately reused it, making no special effort to preserve it for trial. Neither the original tape nor the copy were ever made available to the defense or prosecution during trial.
Defendant contends that under People v. Hitch (1974)
Five years after trial in this case, this court held that “[i]nsofar as section 190.3 contemplates consideration of defendant’s criminal history (see [factors] (b), (c)), such evidence ‘must be limited to . . . conduct that demonstrates the commission of an actual crime, specifically, the violation of a penal statute. . . .’ (People v. Phillips (1985)
Defendant and amicus curiae contend that the courtroom threat, “the hell with getting a cop, I’ll get me a D.A.,” was not a crime in violation of a penal statute. Respondent asserts it was a violation of sections 69 or 71 (threatening an executive or public officer with intent to deter performance of his duties). We conclude that evidence of the courtroom threat would support a finding of a violation of section 69. Although defendant voiced the threat in a low voice, he turned to face the deputy district attorney when he communicated it. The deputy had just completed conducting a preliminary hearing in which defendant was held to answer, had argued against his release on bail, and was able to hear at least a portion of the threat. Given the murder and assault charges which defendant faced, it could reasonably be perceived that he had the apparent ability to carry out the threat. The evidence thus supports an inference that defendant intended to thwart or deter further prosecution of his case by threatening the deputy district attorney, and each requisite element of a violation of section 69 was shown on these facts. (See People v. Hopkins (1983)
We agree with defendant that evidence of the “Danny” threat was inadmissible under the rule of Phillips and Boyd. Respondent contends that defendant’s statement constitutes solicitation of his cousin Lawrence Martin to assist in a plan to murder Officer Maclvor, a violation of section 653f. But Officer Nichols’s testimony concerning this threat does not bear out the claim; the words used by defendant are at best ambiguous and equally supportive of an inference that he was merely relating to Martin how he (defendant) would have to get the gun back and “off” Danny.
The evidence of defendant’s threats was dwarfed in comparison to the seriousness and excessive violence of the charged offenses. Nor did the prosecutor place heavy emphasis on the threats in his closing argument. He maintained that they constituted examples of “other criminal activity” involving a threat of violence and should thus be considered in aggravation, but he also cautioned the jury on three separate occasions to ignore the evidence unless they first found beyond a reasonable doubt that the alleged criminal activity had actually occurred. He suggested the threats evidenced a callous and casual attitude toward the value of others’ lives, but clearly communicated his belief that this attitude was established primarily by defendant’s conduct in the charged offenses and his courtroom demeanor. Finally, the jury knew from the guilt phase that defendant twice met with undercover Officer Maclvor after communicating the “Danny” threat to his cousin and being released from custody. There was no evidence defendant ever attempted to make good on his threat. On these facts it would be sheer speculation for us to conclude that evidence of the threat affected the penalty verdict.
3. Admissibility of Guilt Phase Evidence.
Amicus curiae and defendant assail defense counsel for stipulating to introduction of all the guilt phase evidence at the penalty phase of trial. We find the contention wholly without merit. (See People v. Phillips, supra,
4. Instructions on Sympathy and General Character and Background Evidence.
Defendant and amicus curiae argue that the jury was misinstructed on the proper role of sympathy and general character and background evidence in the penalty phase. In reviewing such claim, we examine the instructions and arguments as a whole to determine whether the jury was adequately informed of the proper scope of mitigating evidence for its consideration. (California v. Brown (1987)
We have undertaken such a review here and conclude that the jury was not misled regarding its responsibilty to consider all of the mitigating evidence in the case.
First, the jury was not instructed at the penalty phase with the “no-sympathy” language embodied in CALJIC No. 1.00. (Compare People v. Brown, supra, 40 Cal.3d at pp. 536-537, vacated sub nom. California v. Brown, supra,
Next, although the jury did receive an instruction in the literal terms of factor (k) in this pre-Easley case (People v. Easley, supra,
After arguing to the jury that “the law is neutral” on what happens at the penalty phase, the prosecutor distinguished the penalty from the guilt phase of trial thusly: “There’s a difference, and that difference is that you previously have been told that pity or passion for a defendant, sympathy, that
Defense counsel told the jury they could “consider Marvin’s family as well. They have indicated to you that they have loved Marvin. They wish him to live, albeit in confinement, life imprisonment without possibility of parole. They have indicated to you that Marvin has done some worthwhile acts while he has been on this earth. That he is a human being, that he has done things to help others, that he has been worthwhile in his activities, that he is a person of worth.” Defense counsel explained: “The prosecutor indicated that the instruction provides as they do that you can consider passion and pity for the defendant if you find that to be appropriate.” Finally, in his closing argument, the prosecutor again argued that defendant’s proffered general character and background evidence was worthy of minimal mitigating weight: “Marvin’s family felt that he should live. You heard the testimony ... I would expect a family to say that. The evidence you heard the other day from the defense on Mr. Walker and his good deeds, the thing that stands out that mostly I think about is that there was almost nothing to say. . . . [1f] You’re going to have instructions. You’ll see how much value that is.”
Defendant directs us to the prosecutor’s closing remarks in which he stated: “The mitigating factors are a possibility of two. And the aggravating factors are all the rest.” (Italics added.) However, read in context, we believe the prosecutor was simply arguing his view of the state of the evidence; namely, that defendant’s relative youth and his lack of prior convictions were the only two factors worthy of assignment of any mitigating weight. Nor do we view the prosecutor’s argument under factor (k) as improperly suggesting to the jury that evidence thereunder related solely to the crimes—or that factor (k) evidence could be aggravating. (See People v. Boyd (1985)
Viewing the instructions and arguments as a whole, we conclude the jury here was adequately informed of the full nature of its responsibility to consider defendant’s mitigating general character and background evidence.
5. Davenport Error.
During his penalty phase argument, the prosecutor reviewed factors (a) through (k) of section 190.3 and argued how in his view the evidence fit under each factor, if applicable. He reviewed the general circumstances of the crimes as aggravating circumstances under factor (a), and urged that evidence of the threats was admissible as a circumstance in aggravation under factor (b). He observed that the absence of prior felony convictions was a mitigating circumstance under factor (c). When he got to factor (d)—whether or not the offense was committed while the defendant was under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance—he argued: “[tjhere is, of course, no evidence of that.” He went on to characterize the manner in which defendant had shot his victims and concluded: “emotional, extreme mental and emotional disturbance on his part, no. Absolutely cold when he did those things. At least, that’s all the evidence we have.” Regarding factor (e)—whether or not the victim was a participant in the defendant’s homicidal conduct or consented to the homicidal act—the prosecutor argued: “Well, that one is there because again, these instructions are for all cases.” He posited an example of a defendant’s potential culpability for the death of an accomplice during commission of a crime, and suggested factor (e) had no application to the instant case.
When he reached factor (f)—whether or not the offense was committed under circumstances which the defendant reasonably believed to be a moral justification or extenuation for his conduct—the prosecutor argued that in his view factor (f) had no application under these facts since defendant had shot his victims, all unknown to him, in an obvious attempt to eliminate each as witness to his crimes. He concluded: “Simply doesn’t apply to this case and again, is not in his favor. It’s an aggravating circumstance.” (Italics added.) Similarly, in summarizing the evidence under factors (g) (extreme duress or substantial domination of another); (h) (mental disease or defect, or the effects of intoxication); and (j) (whether or not defendant was an accomplice and played a relatively minor role in the crimes), the prosecutor argued his viewpoint that those factors did not apply under the instant facts, but in each instance concluded by labeling them another “aggravating circumstance.” Finally, the prosecutor at one point argued: “The mitigating factors are a possibility of two. And the aggravating factors are all the rest.” (Italics added.)
Defendant and amicus curiae urge that the Davenport error requires reversal of the penalty verdict. We do not agree. Initially, we note that defendant is barred from complaining of any prosecutorial misconduct in this regard because he failed to object to the prosecutor’s arguments, and because a simple admonition would have readily clarified any confusion and cured any harm. (People v. Green, supra,
Turning to the question of prejudice, our review of the evidence, instructions, and arguments as a whole convinces us that the prosecutor’s reference to the absence of mitigating evidence under factors (f), (g), (h), and (j) as “aggravating circumstances” could not, in reasonable possibility, have aífected the jury’s penalty verdict. (See People v. Brown (1988)
Finally, we have observed that the impact of so-called “Davenport error” may be reduced where the jury fully understood the weighing function and the scope of its responsibilities and sentencing discretion at the penalty phase. (See, e.g., People v. Brown, supra,
6. Sentencing Discretion.
Defendant and amicus curiae contend that the mandatory sentencing formula of section 190.3 is unconstitutional on the ground that it withdraws constitutionally compelled sentencing discretion from the jury. “In People v. Brown [, supra, ]
Although we found the statutory scheme of section 190.3 constitutional in Brown, “We acknowledge^] that the language of the statute, and in particular the words ‘shall impose a sentence of death,’ leave room for some confusion as to the jury’s role.” (People v. Brown, supra,
“First, we pointed out that the jury might be confused about the nature of the weighing process. As we observed: ‘[T]he word “weighing” is a metaphor for a process which by nature is incapable of precise description. The word connotes a mental balancing process, but certainly not one which calls for a mere mechanical counting of factors on each side of an imaginary “scale,” or the arbitrary assignment of “weights” to any of them. Each juror is free to assign whatever moral or sympathetic value he deems appropriate to each and all of the various factors he is permitted to consider.’ [Citation.]
“Second, we were concerned in Brown that the unadorned instruction’s phrase, ‘the trier of fact . . . shall impose a sentence of death if [it] concludes that the aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances’ (italics added), could mislead the jury as to the ultimate question it was called on to answer in determining which sentence to impose. Although the quoted phrase could be understood to require a juror (i) to determine whether ‘the aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances’ without regard to the juror’s personal view as to the appropriate sentence, and then (ii) to impose a sentence of death if aggravation outweighs mitigation even if the juror does not personally believe death is the appropriate sentence under all the circumstances, we concluded in Brown that the statute was not intended to, and should not, be interpreted in thatfashion. Instead we stated: ‘By directing that the jury “shall” impose the death penalty if it finds that aggravating factors “outweigh” the mitigating, the statute should not be understood to require any juror to vote for the death penalty unless, upon completion of the weighing process, he decides that death is the appropriate penalty under all the circumstances. Thus the jury, by weighing the various factors, simply determines under the relevant evidence, which penalty is appropriate in the particular case.’ ” (People v. Allen, supra, 42 Cal.3d at pp. 1276-1277, italics in original.)
Our review of counsel’s arguments reveals nothing which would have confused the jury regarding the proper nature of the weighing process, our first concern in Brown. The prosecutor did not suggest that the weighing process was merely a “mechanical” or “counting” process. In explaining to the jurors their responsibility to weigh the evidence under the statutory factors, he argued: “[T]he reason that [the law] gives the jury the ultimate, or one of the ultimate steps in the job in this determination is because all cases are different. If they weren’t, you could do something else. You wouldn’t have to subject twelve people to this. You could add it up or figure it out, compute it or something. It would be easy. But it’s not. There are different facts.” The prosecutor then argued: “If the defense raises anything in this case . . . any real evidence . . . that there is a reason for sympathy towards this particular defendant, then of course that’s something for you to weigh. . . .” (Italics added.) He explained that the procedure set forth in former CALJIC No. 8.84.2 was a weighing process: “The instruction says, look at the factors and see which outweighs the other.” (Italics added.)
As previously noted, at one point in his argument the prosecutor stated, “[t]he mitigating factors are a possibility of two. And the aggravating factors are all the rest.” Read in the context of the prosecutor’s entire argument, we conclude this one statement could not in and of itself have misled the jury into thinking the weighing process was a mere mechanical counting of factors, with the death penalty to be imposed if the aggravating circumstances numerically outnumbered the mitigating ones. Again, the prosecutor was simply arguing his view of the case; i.e., that the only evidence worthy of any mitigating weight fit under factor (c) (the absence of prior felony convictions), and factor (i) (defendant’s relatively youthful age).
Turning to our second concern in Brown; whether the jury understood the full scope of its sentencing discretion as to the ultimate question it was being called upon to answer—which sentence to impose—our examination of the instructions and arguments as a whole convinces us that the jury understood its obligation to determine whether or not death was the appropriate penalty in this case.
First, the court gave several supplemental instructions that helped clarify the jury’s role. As previously noted, the jury was instructed that: “[I]n this
Second, the prosecutor throughout his argument repeatedly stressed that the law in essence was neutral at the penalty phase, and that it was the jury’s function to weigh the evidence under the relevant factors. He argued: “the law is not fixed on what the penalty should be . . . ,” and explained: “You won’t hear an instruction that says it’s your duty to assume that one penalty or the other is proper. It’s your duty to assume that this case, the law calls for a certain kind of verdict. You won’t. In fact, it is neutral on the subject. It is entirely up to you what the facts are that you find to be the case.” He reread former CALJIC No. 8.84.2 for the jurors and urged them to “look at the factors and see which outweighs the others.” He reiterated that sympathy and passion for the defendant were proper considerations at the penalty phase, although he forcefully argued his view that there was little mitigating evidence to justify harboring such emotions for this defendant.
Several times during his argument, the prosecutor expressed disagreement with defense counsel’s repeated characterization of the jury’s task as being to determine whether to “kill” Marvin Walker. The prosecutor urged the jury to reject defense counsel’s argument that a vote for the death penalty would be the “easy” or “popular thing to do,” tantamount to a “cruel” act of “vengeance” for which the jurors would ultimately suffer a guilty conscience. At one point the prosecutor argued: “It’s not necessary for either one of us to put this personal sort of blame on you.”
Defendant urges that the prosecutor’s argument may have lessened the jurors’ sense of responsibility to individually arrive at an appropriate penalty determination. (See, e.g., People v. Milner (1988)
Third, in responding to the prosecutor’s argument, defense counsel conceded to the jury that in one sense he was seeking to impose “a guilt trip” on them. He explained that what he had hoped to do “was to impress upon you a sense of responsibility, a personal responsibility in terms of your actions and what you must decide and how you must decide it. Whatever decision you make has to be your responsibility. Each one of us has to decide the issue individually, for your own as to what should be the appropriate circumstance. You can decide to kill Marvin, and that’s what the death penalty is all about. It’s killing people.” Counsel told the jury: “You are the ones. Nobody else, [fl] If you decide that he’s going to die, you’re not going to be there at the time that it’s done, obviously, but you put that machinery in operation.” He implored the jury not to vote for the death penalty in this case, urging them to consider that “Marvin is a person, a human being.” He urged them to look back upon their lives to the time they were 20 years of age when considering defendant’s relative youth, to “[cjonsider his family as well,” and “not to act from vengeance alone, but to show our understanding, our mercy. . . .” Counsel concluded his argument with the statement: “Your decision will be final. It will be the ultimate word on Marvin. I would only ask you for your mercy.”
Although the prosecutor and defense counsel plainly disapproved of one another’s choice of language, each was in his own words seeking to impress upon the jurors the solemnity of their individual sentencing obligations. In this fundamental sense the arguments were not in conflict. “This is not the
Viewing the arguments and instructions as a whole, we are satisfied they did not mislead the jurors as to the full nature of their sentencing discretion, and that the jurors realized the ultimate sentencing responsibility rested with them, and them alone. (People v. Hendricks, supra,
7. Deletion of Nonapplicable Statutory Factors.
Defendant and amicus curiae contend that the trial court erred in failing to delete the nonapplicable or irrelevant statutory mitigating factors. (§ 190.3.) We have previously rejected this argument. (See People v. Miranda, supra, 44 Cal.3d at pp. 104-105; People v. Ghent, supra, 43 Cal.3d at pp. 776-777 [1977 death penalty law].) “[A]s is apparent from the statutory language, it is for the jury to determine which of the listed factors are applicable or ‘relevant’ to the particular case. (§ 190.3, par. 6.)” (Miranda, supra,
8. Age as an Aggravating Factor.
One of the factors to be considered by the penalty jury “if relevant” is “[t]he age of the defendant at the time of the crime.” (§ 190.3, factor (i).) Defendant and amicus curiae contend that the prosecutor committed misconduct in arguing that defendant’s age of 20 years should be considered an aggravating factor.
The prosecutor argued defendant “certainly is old enough to know better,” but he ultimately concluded defendant’s relative youth could be considered a mitigating circumstance: “You take it or leave it. You can give it to him as a mitigating factor.” He never affirmatively argued that defendant’s chronological age weighed in favor of the death penalty. The argument was permissible. (People v. Lucky (1988)
9. Lack of Remorse as an Aggravating Factor.
Defendant and amicus curiae contend that the prosecutor impermissibly argued lack of remorse as an aggravating factor. The prosecutor
Defendant’s failure to object or request a curative admonition has waived any claim of misconduct on appeal with regard to the argument. (People v. Green, supra,
Here, the prosecutor’s comments on defendant’s lack of remorse “did no more than suggest the inapplicability of a mitigating factor.” (People v. Rodriguez, supra,
10. Prosecutorial Misconduct.
Near the end of his closing argument, the prosecutor argued to the jury: “I think when he [defense counsel] says give him life imprisonment, that it diminishes, cheapens what’s happened. It cheapens life, Joe Vasquez’s life. But that’s not written in the law either. That’s just my personal opinion.” Amicus curiae assigns the statement as misconduct, but defendant’s failure to object or request an admonition below precludes raising the claim for the first time on appeal. (People v. Green, supra,
11. Intercase Proportionality Review.
Defendant urges that we conduct “intercase” proportionality review—i.e., an examination of whether imposition of the death penalty in his case is disproportionate to the penalties imposed on other persons who have committed similar offenses. It is settled, however, that the Eighth Amend
III. Disposition
The judgment is affirmed in its entirety.
Lucas, C. J., Panelli, J., Arguelles, J., and Kaufman, J., concurred. Mosk, J., concurred in the judgment only.
Notes
All statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.
The jury acquitted defendant of assault with intent to commit murder of Enrique Guerrero, who had inadvertently entered the store during the robbery and had been struck over the head and knocked semi-unconscious by an individual he was unable to identify.
An investigator from Monterey County, however, testified for the prosecution that no homicide had been committed there between October 1978 and May 1979 with a .32 caliber gun.
Moreover, at the penalty trial for the Vasquez felony murder, evidence of defendant’s robbery and attempted murder of Olveda was admissible to establish an aggravating circumstance.
Amicus curiae contends further that under People v. Trevino (1985)
Defendant alone robbed and assaulted with intent to murder victim Rose Olveda. This argument is directed solely to the convictions of assaulting with intent to murder Jerry Romero and Andy Zamora during the liquor store robbery, which defendant perpetrated with an accomplice.
The foreman inquired in this regard: “In the definition of time of commission of offense in this case, it appears there were really two offenses taking place concurrently. There was a murder taking place the same time as a robbery, [fl] Are there any instructions relating to when the murder might begin? [H] . . . Well, let me preface it by saying I don’t think it’s a major problem. But we’re looking for some clarification on the beginning of a crime. And there are two crimes that are occurring at the same time. I guess the question is: . . . Is the crime defined to have begun when the intent of that crime becomes clear? Or is it only when the act clearly begins?"
Defendant testified he and Martin sold stolen property to Officer Maclvor earlier on this date. This was the same transaction in which defendant sold the handgun used in the instant offenses to Officer Maclvor. Shortly after the sale, defendant and Martin were stopped and detained on suspicion of burglary. While in the police station their conversations were secretly monitored; at that time defendant’s alleged threats to get the gun back from “Danny” and kill him were overheard.
Indeed, defense counsel argued to the jury that destruction of the tape cast doubt upon the “Danny” threat evidence, and militated against a finding that the threats had been proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
Under other circumstances, evidence of the “Danny” threat may well have been admissible as a “circumstance of the crime” under section 190.3, factor (a)-—even though the statement was made several weeks after commission of these offenses. Defendant was making reference in his statement to recovery of the handgun he used to commit these crimes, and to the
Defendant and amicus curiae urge that the prosecutor’s statement—“It’s called for by the law”—itself may have improperly misled the jury into believing “the law” automatically called for the death penalty in this case. We do not agree. Read in the context of the above-quoted passage, the prosecutor was merely urging the jury to “do what the instruction says to do.” He prefaced his comments with the statement, “if you vote for the death penalty in this case. . . .” (Italics added.) And as noted, the prosecutor had earlier in his argument told the jury: “the law is not fixed on what the penalty should be. . . ,” and explained: “You won’t hear an instruction that says it’s your duty to assume that one penalty or the other is proper. It’s your duty to assume that this case, the law calls for a certain kind of verdict. You won’t. In fact, it is neutral on the subject. It is entirely up to you what the facts are that you find to be the case.”
Thus this is not a case like People v. Myers (1987)
Concurrence Opinion
I concur in the affirmance of the judgment as to guilt and in the sustaining of the special circumstance findings.
I dissent, however, from the affirmance of the judgment as to penalty. Our previous opinion rendered before this court granted rehearing reversed the penalty judgment because certain jury instructions may have caused the jury to misunderstand what evidence it could consider in mitigation, and to misunderstand the nature of its function in selecting the penalty. I adhere to the view that the instruction on the applicable factors in mitigation, along with the prosecutor’s argument on these factors, require reversal. The trial court instructed the jury on the statutory factors in aggravation and mitigation, but did not explain that any aspect of the defendant’s character and background which defendant proffers can be used as a basis for rejecting the death penalty. (See People v. Easely (1983)
Since rehearing was granted in this case, we have determined, under the guidance of the United States Supreme Court, that the prejudicial effect of this sort of instructional error must be viewed in the context of the record as a whole, with particular emphasis upon the arguments which the prosecutor made to the jury. (California v. Brown (1987)
The majority claim that the prosecutor generally conceded the theoretical relevance of defendant’s mitigating background evidence, but dismissed the evidence as insignificant. On the contrary, the prosecutor’s discussion of defendant’s background evidence was intended to persuade the jury that the
On rehearing, amicus curiae identified an additional error which reinforces my conclusion that the penalty judgment cannot stand. As the majority find, the evidence of defendant’s threat against the police officer did not show the commission of a violation of any penal statute. (See People v. Phillips (1985)
My reading of the record discloses that defendant made the remark as he was escorted by the bailiff to the holding cell. The room was noisy, and defendant made the remark under his breath. The deputy district attorney who conducted the hearing was 20 feet away from defendant and did not hear any threat, but only heard the words “D.A.” I see no evidence that defendant communicated any threat, or that he, a prisoner in custody and
A review of the prosecutor’s rebuttal argument to the jury makes it clear how important the threats were to his case for imposing the death penalty. The prosecutor urged the jury to consider the threats as a factor in aggravation under Penal Code section 190.3 factor (b) (uncharged crimes of violence). Without this improperly admitted evidence, the prosecutor would have had to admit that the absence of evidence of prior crimes of violence was a factor in mitigation. The prosecutor also made particular use of the evidence in his rebuttal argument, when he tried to counter defense counsel’s plea for the punishment of life imprisonment. He argued that the threats showed that defendant would be violent and dangerous in prison, and that they showed such lack of remorse or consideration for the value of life that defendant was entitled to no mercy.
I remain convinced that there is a serious risk that the jury misunderstood one of the crucial tools it was to use in determining penalty, in that it did not understand the applicability of defendant’s mitigating background evidence. The case in mitigation was truncated and the case in aggravation was enhanced not only by this misunderstanding, but also by the admission of very damaging evidence that defendant made threats of violence against representatives of the state. The jury was urged to consider these threats and their implication regarding future conduct in determining whether defendant should be incarcerated or executed. I would reverse the penalty judgment.
Appellant’s petition for a rehearing was denied March 16, 1989.